Transmission mechanism



June 14, 1949. c. J. LUCIA EI'AL TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1945 o a 6m T k 6 lm m m 1 5 m mv R m a m 5 B .M m z 5 .H 4 W a 7 w Patented June 14; 1949 TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Carroll J. Lucia, Toledo, Ohio, and Forest R. Mc- Far-land, Huntington Woods, Mich., assignors to Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mlcln, a corporation of Michigan Application March 15, 1945, Serial No. 582,892

(Cl. 7H8!) Claims. 1

This invention relates to transmission mechanism and more particularly to compound epicyclic gearing.

An object of the invention is to provide a balanced multi-speed transmission mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-speed transmission mechanism having epicyclic gearing with regenerative power means associated therewith to establish at least one of the driving speeds.

Another object of the invention is to provide compound epicyclic gearing with control mechanism-for establishing a plurality of stepped-up driving speeds from an input member to an output member.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings. which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a multi-speed drive mechanism incorporating the invention;

carrier. The carrier has a hub portion 2| splined v as at 2 l' to the end of the input shaft member "I.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of I Fig. 3 is a reduced sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of mechanism associated with the mechanism in Fig. 1 for obtaining additional driving speeds.

Referring now to the drawings by characters of reference, power input means is connected to power output means by epicyclic gearing that may consist of one or more planetary gear sets. The power input means may consist of a drive shaft l and/or adapter sleeves 30 and 3| splined together at 93. Such input means are driven by crankshaft l4, sleeve 30 being splined at 34 to the crankshaft and drive shaft l0 being splined at 35 to sleeve 90. The epicyclic gearing is illustrated as comprising two planetary gear sets I2 and I3 connected in series and both arranged to step-up the drive but in some cases where a slower speed result is desired a single planetary gear set could be used. The output means may be a driven shaft suitable for various purposes, such as for driving a shaft I! having an engine supercharger impeller lflxed thereto by splines 36. The two planetary gear sets will be referred to generally as the power input gear set I2 and the power output gear set I3. The input gear set I2 is comprised of a carrier or cage ll, planet gears ll, ring gear I 3 and sun gear It, the planet gears being rotatably mounted 'on pins fixed to the Output gear set I3 is comprised of carrieror cage 22, planet gears 23, ring gear 24 and sun gear 23, the planet gears being rotatably mounted on pins 26 fixed to the carrier. This cage 22 has a flange extension 21 splined at 28' to an extension 23 of the sun gear of the input gear set. Sun gear 25 is splined at 23 to the output shaft member I I. When a single gear set is employed gear set 13 will be utilized and its cage will be secured to the power input shaft I0. Shaft ii is splined at 29' to shaft l5.

The epicyclic change speed gearing is housed in casing 30 having walls 3|, 32, 33 and 34 extending transversely therein. Bearing 35 in wall 3| supports the output end of the crankshaft l4 and bearing 36 in wall 35' supports theshaft l5. Walls 32, 33 and 34 provide supports for the epicyclic gearing, and ring gear [3 of the input gear set is fixed to wall 33 by bolts 31. Wall 32 serves to support an extended hub flange 38 of the cage for the input planetary ear set. An extension 33 of cage l3 and an extension 40 of ring gear 24 and'extension 21 are supported by wall 33. An extension M of ring gear 24 and an extension 42 of cage 22 are supported by wall 34.

As ring gear l3-of the input planetary gear set is held stationary with the casing, this gear set will have a fixed ratio that is designed to step up the drive from the input shaft Ill and cage l6 to the sun gear l3. As the gear sets are connected in series, this stepped-up drive will be applied to the output gear set. The output gear set is designed to step-up the speed of the drive from the input gear set to the driven shaft at a plurality of selected ratios through means controlling rotation of ring gear 24. One of these controls consists of means for holding ring gear 24 stationary with wall 34 through the medium of a brake device 43.

Wall 34 is flanged to provide a central chamber 44 into which ring gear extension 4| projects and a sleeve 45 extends around the outer portion of the chamber and has a flange overlying the open end thereof. A cover plate 43 overlies theflange of the sleeve 45 and the plate and flange are suitably secured to wallv 34. Brake plates 41 are housed in chamber 44 and are alternately splined to ring gear extension 4| and to sleeve 45. The brake plates may be engaged by a piston 48 actuated by suitably controlled fluid under pressure flowing I through conduit 43 that is connected with a suitpreferably further stepped-up, although the speed of the drive through the gear sets could be stepped-down. When brake 49 .is-engaged holding ring gear 24 stationary, the gearing is conditioned for the highest speed =drive1andpowen. flows entirely and directly through the gear sets; the reactions being taken by wallsjl'and 3 3. As

shown, the drive will be stepped-up approximately eight times from shaft I to shaft ill in high speed. a v

The epicyclic gearingi'sprovidedfwith regenerative power means for establishing lower drivbodily in a clockwise direction.

be driven in a counterclockwise direction and at an increased speed from the power input means gears II will rotate antlclockwiseon pins 20 and I will drive sun gear IS in a clockwise direction at an increased speed, the planet gears moving Shafts 59 will -through the gear trains consisting of gear 54 ing speeds through the outputgearset. Such consists of two similar balanced drive mechanisms parallel with and disposed oppositely with respect to the axes of the gear sets. Only one of these two mechanisms will be described, but

similar numerals will be used to designate similar parts of both mechanisms.

Lay shaft 50 is supported by wall 33 and carries a gear 5! having an extension 52 splined thereto and supported in a portion 53 of the easing 30. Gear 5! meshes with gear 54 fixed to sleeve 55 that is splined at 56 to cage 16 of the input gear set and at 92 to sleeve 9i splined at 93 to adapter 90. These two connections or either one of them will drive the gear 54 at crankshaft speed. Lay shaft 59 is drivingly connected with the output gear set ring gear 24 through either one of two sets of gearing having diflerent gear ratios. Ring gear 24 is formed with external gear 51 and ring gear extension 4| is formed with external gear 59. Gear 51 meshes with ear 59 and gear 58 meshes with gear 69. Gears 59 and 50 are loosely mounted on the lay shaft 59 and are selectively fixed therewith by clutch means.

Gear 59 is formed with an annular inner surface 6| surrounding cam surfaces 62 on the lay shaft and overrunning clutch rollers 93 are arranged between the gear surface and the cam surfaces. Such connection is a conventional overrunning clutch that will automatically engage when conditions so dictate. The ratio of gears 51 and 59 is lower than that of gears 59 and 60 so that the overrunning clutch will be automatically engaged when the drive from gears Bil to the lay shaft is disconnected.

Gear 59 may be fixed to the lay shaft by a friction clutch 61. Gear 60 has a sleeve extension 64 projecting into clutch chamber 65 formed in wall 34 and into the flanged end of clutch member 66 splined to lay shaft 50. Clutch plates 69 are alternately splined to sleeve 54 and clutch element 66 and may be engaged by piston 55 actuated by fluid under pressure entering chamber 65 through conduit 59'.- A suitable source of fluid supply and fluid control means may be employed to regulate engagement and disengage ment of the clutch.

With the mechanism so far described three speeds can be obtained. In all three speeds the input anetary gear set will operate at a constant speed ratio to step-up the drive from shaft in to the output planetary gear set. As the ring gear 18 is stationary and the cage is is rotated in a clockwise direction with shaft l0, planet and gears 5i.

Under all operating conditions, the lay shafts 50 and sun gear l9 will be driven 'at an increased speed from the input power means. In all three speeds the output planetary gear set will step-up the drive to shaft H. The

highest driving speed is obtained by engaging brake 43 tohold ring gear 24 stationary. Cage 22 is always driven clockwise by sun gear l9, and planet gears 23 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction on their pins 26 but will be carried bodily in a clockwise direction, so that the drive to sun gear 25 splined to shaft i l is steppedup. When ring gear 24 is held stationary for the highest speed drive, clutches 51 will be released and shafts 59 will overrun gears 59 and 90.

Intermediate speed is obtained when brake 43 is released and clutches 51 are engaged. Carrier 22 is rotated in a clockwise direction due to its splined connection with sun gear sleeve 28 creating a clockwise reaction on the ring gear 24 which will cause the ring gear 24 to move in a clockwise direction at a speed regulated by the gear ratio of gears 58 and 50 so that the speed of the drive transmitted to the sun gear splined to shaft II will be less than the highest speed when brake 43 is engaged. The reaction force flows from the ring gear 24 through gears 58 and 60 to shafts 59 and through the gears 51 and 54 back to the power input means providing a regenerative power system. While the clutches 61 are engaged to provide intermediate driving speed, the shafts 59 will overrun gears 59 because the gear ratio of gears 59 and 51 is lower than that of gears 59 and 60.

When the lowest stepped-up driving speedis desired, brake 43 and clutches 61 are released and the clockwise reaction of ring gear 24 is then transmitted to the constant speed shafts through the planetary gears 29 to the sun gear driving speeds but as shown in Fig. 5, additional 25 and shaft U will be lower than when the mechanism is conditioned for intermediate driving speed.

The structure so far described provides three speeds may be obtained by the addition of gear trains between the lay shafts andthe cage of the input gear set. Overrunning clutches are arranged between gears 5| and lay shafts 59.

The gears 5| are formed with flanges "Ill having interior cam faces engaged by rollers II which also engage shaft 50. Gears I2 are fixed to gears 54 by bolts 13 and mesh with gears I4 rotatably mounted on lay shafts 59. Gears 14 have sleeves '15 extending parallel with flanges 1'6 on the lay shafts. Clutch plates 11 are alternately splined to sleeves l5 and flanges 19. The plates may be engaged by pistons 19 actuated by fluid pressure connected with chambers I9 in a conven- 70 tional manner.

The additional gear trains comprised of gears 12 and 14 between the input power means and the lay shafts together with clutches 11 provide for two more driving speeds through the transmission mechanism previously described. First, third and fifth speeds correspond to the three speeds obtainable with the structure in Figs. 1 to 4, and second and fourth speeds are added by the structure in Fi 5.

With the structure shown in Fig. 5 incorporated with the structure in Fig. 1, the highest speed, of fifth speed, will be obtained by engaging brake 43.- Clutches 11 may be engaged or disengaged as the lay shafts will overrun gear 59, and gear 60 will idle with clutches B1 disengaged. The next highest or fourth speed drive is obtained by releasing brake 43 and engaging clutches 81 and 11. The reaction force will flow through gears 58 and 60 to lay shafts 50 and through gears 14 and I2 back to the power input means, the lay shafts overrunning gears 5|, and being overrun by gears 59. The next highest or third speed drive is obtained by engaging the front clutches 11 in which event gears 51 and 59 will be drlvingly connected with the lay shafts through overrunning clutches 53 and the lay shafts will be overrun by gears 5| and the lay shafts will be drlvingly connected with the power input means through gears 14 and 12. The next highest or second speed drive is obtained by engaging the clutches 51 which will drlvingly connect gears 59 and '60 with the lay shafts and overrunning clutch rollers 1| will connect gears 5| with the lay shafts and the regenerative power thus flows to the power input means. Gears 14' will idle and the lay shafts will overrun gears 59. The low or first speed is obtained by disengaging clutches 61 and 11 whereupon gears 60- and 14 will idle and overrunning clutches 63 and II will become eflective to establish the regenerative power flow through gears 51, 59, 5| and 54. It will be understood that brake 43 is released except in fifth or high speed drive. It will be seen that such structure makes provision for holding gear 24 stationary for top speed and that in the four lower speeds rotation of the output ring gear 24 can be selectively varied through the several gear ratios of the regenerative power means.

The dual oppositely disposed mechanisms for connecting the input and output gear sets to establish the lower speed drives provide a balanced drive through the structure.

It will be understood that various forms of the invention other than those described above may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A variable speed transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, speed ratio varying means interposed between the driving and driven shafts and including a power input gear set and a power output gear set, the power input gear set having a nonrotatable ring gear, a planet carrier operably connected to the driving shaft, and a driving sun gear, the power output gear set having a planet carrier operably connected to the sun gear of the power input gear set, a sun gear operably connected to the driven shaft, and a rotatable ring gear, a plurality of spaced ring gear control shafts extending parallel with and operably connected to the driving shaft, one-way driving means between the ring gear and the control shafts, and manually operable braking means to lock said ring gear against rotation.

2. In a variable speed transmission, a housing, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, speed ratio varying means interposed between the driving and driven shafts and comprising a pair of planetary gear sets connected in series, the first planetary gear set having a ring gear fixed to the housing,

a planet carrier driven by the driving shaft, and a sun gear, the second planetary gear set having a planet carrier driven by the sun gear of the first planetary gear set, a sun gear connected to the driven shaft, and a rotatable ring gear, a pair of spaced layshafts extending parallel to the driving shaft, gearing connecting the layshafts to the driving shaft, one-way driving means between the ring gear and the layshafts, and manually operable braking means to lock said ring gear against rotation,

3. A variable speed transmission comprising a housing, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, speed ratio varying means interposed between the driving and driven shafts and including a pair of planetary gear sets connected in series, the first planetary gear set having a ring gear fixed to the housing, a planet carrier driven by the driving shaft, and a sun gear, the second planetary gear set having a planet carrier driven by the sun gear of the first planetary gear set, a sun gear operably connected to the driven shaft, and a retatable ring gear, a plurality of spaced layshafts extending parallel to the driving shaft, gearing connecting the layshafts to the driving shaft, manually operable braking means to lock said ring gear against rotation, a plurality of geared connections of different ratios between the ring gear and the layshafts, one-way driving means in each of said geared connections, and manually operable clutching means to render one of said geared connections inoperable to regenerate torque reaction from the ring gear through the layshafts to the driving shaft.

4. A variable speed transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, regenerative speed ratio varying means interposed between the drlving and driven shafts and comprising a pair of gear sets connected in series, the first gear set having a nonrotatable ring gear, a planet carrier operably connected to the drivin shaft, and a sun gear, the second gear set having a planet carrier driven by the sun gear of the first gear set, a sun gear operably connected to the driven shaft, and a controllable ring gear, a plurality of spaced ring gear control shafts extending parallel to the driving shaft, multiple ratio gearing connecting the ring gear control shafts to the driving shaft, manually operable means to select one of said multiple ratio gear connections, multiple ratio one-way driving means between the ring gear and the ring gear control shafts, manually operable means to select one of said multiple ratio driving means, and manually operable brakin means to lock said ring gear against rotation,

5. In a transmission having driving and driven shafts, a fixed ratio driving planetary gear set comprising a nonrotatable reaction member, a

rotatable element operably connected to the driving shaft, and a driven element, a variable ratio driving planetary gear set comprising a rotatable reaction member, a rotatable element operably connected to the driven element of the fixed ratio driving planetary gear set, and another rotatable element operably connected to the driven shaft, a plurality of spaced reaction member control members operably connected to the driving shaft and tothe rotatable reaction member, one-way driving means associated with'the reaction member control members to redirect driving torque from the reaction member to the driving shaft under certain conditions of operation, and manually operable means to lock the reaction member against rotation.

6. A transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, a fixed ratio driving planetary gear set having a rotatable element operably connected to the driving shaft, a driven element, and a nonrotatable reaction member, a variable ratio driving planetary gear set having a rotatable element operably connected to the driven element of the fixed ratio driving planetary gear set, another rotatable element operably connected to the driven shaft, and a rotatable reaction member, a plurality of reaction member control shafts geared to the driving shaft and to the rotatable reaction member to provide a plurality of gear ratio controls for the reaction member, one-way driving means associated with the reaction member control shafts to redirect driving torque from the reaction member to the driving shaft under certain conditions of operation, manually operable means to select a desired gear ratio control of the reaction member to vary the speed ratio of the drive from the driving shaft to the driven shaft, and manually operable means to lock the reaction member against rotation.

7. In a transmission having driving and driven shafts, a fixed speed increasing planetary gear set driven by the driving shaft, a variable speed increasing planetary gear set driven by the fixed speed planetary gear set, connecting means between the variable speed increasing planetary gear set and the driven shaft, the fixed speed planetary gear set having a nonrotatable reaction member and the variable speed increasing planetary gear set having a rotatable reaction member, brake means tolock the rotatable reaction member to provide a high speed increasing drive through the. variable speed increasing planetary gear set, spaced layshafts geared to the driving shaft, two selectively operable geared means of different speed ratios between the layshafts and the rotatable reaction member to drive said member at difierent speed ratios relative to the speed of the driving shaft to vary the speed ratio drive from the driving shaft to the driven shaft, and separately operable friction clutch and mechanical one-way clutching means between the layshafts and said geared means of different speed ratios to drive the rotatable reaction member at different speed ratios to provide intermediate and low speed increasing drives through the variable speed increasing planetary gear set.

CARROLL J. LUCIA. FOREST R. MCFARLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,282,495 Tornberg Oct. 22, 1918 1,648,969 Stuart Nov. 15, 1927 1,717,018 Ferrari June 11, 1929 2,301,072 Nardone Nov. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 144,349 Great Britain June 10, 1920 362,192 Italy Aug. 1'1, 1938 544,335 Great Britain Apr. .9, 1942 

